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Grocery Wholesaling in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Melanie Katz Melanie Katz Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: April 2025 WZ G46.39DE

Revenue

€116.6bn

2025

€116.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

110k

Businesses

1,263

Wages

€X.Xbn

Grocery Wholesaling in Germany industry analysis

In recent years, industry sales have been subject to moderate fluctuations. The coronavirus crisis and the associated infection prevention measures have at times had a negative impact on important markets such as gastronomy, company catering and petrol stations. From 2021 onwards, the compensatory effect of stockpiling in food retail at the start of the pandemic also diminished. With the lifting of infection control measures, demand for food and beverages from the catering industry increased again and wholesale sales of food and beverages started to grow again from 2023. Between 2020 and 2025, industry turnover grew by an average of 0.9% per year and is expected to increase by 1% to 116.6 billion euros in the current year. < />Since 2022, the war in Ukraine has contributed to rising prices for raw materials such as grain and oilseeds as well as energy prices. This has led to an increase in food production costs, which has also increased the purchase prices of food and beverage wholesalers. However, due to the market power of food retailers and the strong competition within the industry, wholesalers have only been able to pass on some of these price increases to their customers, which has put pressure on the profits of some players. Increasing health awareness and the resulting growth in demand for healthy food has had both positive and negative effects on the sales of industry players. On the one hand, manufacturers are constantly launching new products on the market due to changing consumer preferences, while on the other, demand for unhealthy products such as tobacco products or fatty foods and highly sugary drinks is falling, which can put pressure on industry sales.In future, net household incomes are expected to continue to develop slightly positively, food prices are expected to ease slightly and consumers are expected to be more willing to spend money on high-quality and healthy food. As a result, industry turnover is likely to develop slightly positively until 2030 and increase by an average of 1.1% per year to €123.5 billion. Along with industry turnover, the number of food and luxury food wholesalers is also likely to increase slightly.

Trends and Insights

  • In recent years, the price war in the supermarket and discount store sector has intensified. As a result, wholesalers are increasingly keen to cut costs in order to be able to sell products to their retail customers at the lowest possible prices.
  • The demand for tobacco products is falling and competition from specialised wholesalers is strong. As there are only a few tobacco product manufacturers and they have great market power, it is not profitable for wholesalers without a strong focus to trade in tobacco products.
  • Most food wholesalers are located in regions with a large population, as end consumers determine demand through supermarkets and restaurants. As a result, most wholesalers in the industry are based in the central and southern regions.
  • Since most merchandise can easily be replaced by goods from other wholesalers, it is usually ordered from the cheapest supplier. The leading companies in the industry have a cost advantage over the smaller industry players due to the large quantities they trade.

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  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €116.6bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The price war among supermarkets and discounters reduces wholesalers' profits

  • In recent years, the price war in the supermarket and discount store sector has intensified, with wholesalers increasingly looking to cut costs in order to sell products to their customers at the lowest possible prices.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Grocery Wholesaling in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Increasing digitalisation will contribute to efficiency gains and open up new sales channels

  • The level of digitalisation in Germany has risen by around 50% since 2020 and is likely to increase further in the coming years. Although automation in this sector will continue to advance in the coming years with increasing digitalisation, the opportunities for staff and cost savings are limited due to the rather low staffing requirements of the wholesale sector.

Biggest companies in the Grocery Wholesaling in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025
Rewe Group
17,038.1
Metro AG
4,961.0
Transgourmet Central and Eastern Europe GmbH
4,295.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Grocery Wholesaling in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dairy and meat products, Fruit, vegetables and potatoes and Seafood and animal feed. Dairy and meat products is the largest segment of the Grocery Wholesaling in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The continuous refrigeration of fresh dairy and meat products incurs high costs

  • In addition to dairy and meat products, this product group also includes eggs and fats.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector comprises the wholesale of various products without a specific focus. This means that companies in the sector trade in foodstuffs such as fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products, baked goods and sweets as well as beverages and tobacco products. The retailers source the products from the manufacturers and sell them mainly to retailers and the catering trade.

What's included in this industry?

Dairy and meat productsFruit, vegetables and potatoesSeafood and animal feedDrinksCoffee, tea and baked goodsTobacco products

Companies

Rewe GroupMetro AGTransgourmet Central and Eastern Europe GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ALLERGENESE-PROCUREMENTGLUTEN

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 46.39 - Grocery Wholesaling in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

In recent years, the price war in the supermarket and discount store sector has intensified. As a result, wholesalers are increasingly keen to cut costs in order to be able t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The demand for tobacco products is falling and competition from specialised wholesalers is strong. As there are only a few tobacco product manufacturers and they have great m...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Most food wholesalers are located in regions with a large population, as end consumers determine demand through supermarkets and restaurants. As a result, most wholesalers in...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Since most merchandise can easily be replaced by goods from other wholesalers, it is usually ordered from the cheapest supplier. The leading companies in the industry have a ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

With the acquisition of Lekkerland, Rewe has established the strategic business unit Convenience within the Rewe Group. As this is the area with the greatest growth potential...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Rewe Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Metro AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Transgourmet Central and Eastern Europe GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Rewe Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Metro AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Transgourmet Central and Eastern Europe GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services represents the interests of its members vis-à-vis politics and administration at national and international le...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The health trend and the resulting change in consumer behaviour is having a positive impact on the profits of wholesalers, who can charge more for these products due to the gr...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany is €116.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?

There are 1,263 businesses in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany are Rewe Group, Metro AG and Transgourmet Central and Eastern Europe GmbH

What does the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany include?

Dairy and meat products and Fruit, vegetables and potatoes are part of the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany is Rewe Group.

How competitive is the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Grocery Wholesaling industry in Germany.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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